Chris Cucuzzella, a Loyola Blakefield physics teacher who lives in Towson, takes off from a Bike to Work Day pit stop in Towson over the summer. Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk and other areas around the county all have bike paths or dedicated bike lanes.

Chris Cucuzzella, a Loyola Blakefield physics teacher who lives in Towson, takes off from a Bike to Work Day pit stop in Towson over the summer. Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk and other areas around the county all have bike paths or dedicated bike lanes. (BSMG File)

Baltimore County plans to set aside $200,000 to match grants from the state, the federal government and private programs that could go toward building bike paths and bike lanes under a new initiative from County Executive Don Mohler.

The money for the program, dubbed BaltCoBike 2030, initially come from the Department of Public Works budget. In an emailed statement, Mohler said he hopes there will be a line item in the county’s budget each year to support the program.

In future years, whether that funding is included in the county budget will depend on the newly elected county executive and County Council members.

In an emailed statement, John Olszewski Jr., the Democratic nominee for Baltimore County executive, said Mohler’s plan is an “important step” toward making neighborhoods “walkable, bikeable and accessible.”

Republican nominee Al Redmer did not respond to a request for comment.

Previous grants that have been awarded to the county to construct bike paths or bike lanes have required the local government to match a certain percentage of those grants, county spokeswoman Ellen Kobler explained.

Baltimore County recently completed several bicycle improvement projects around the county, with about 27 miles of paths. An online map shows the current state of projects around the county.

In years past, when matching funds were needed, the county would have to “work through the budget to sort of figure out where that money is going to come from,” Kobler said.

A dedicated pool of $200,000 each year would allow the county to more easily match grants for bike lane and bike path construction.

Baltimore County estimates the fund could be leveraged to meet matching requirements from different grants totaling as much as $1 million for county bike projects.

Mohler said in a statement the funding and planning process “will prioritize funding for recreational off-road bike trails and bike lanes that will be strategically located,” to link neighborhoods, parks and schools

The county currently isn’t applying for any specific grants, and there are no identified locations for new or expanded bike paths, Kobler said.

County Councilman Tom Quirk, who represents the southwestern part of Baltimore County, called the initiative “great” and said he would work with Catonsville Rails to Trails, a nonprofit group that works to expand access to biking in the Catonsville area, to search for grants for which the county could apply.

The Sparrows Point Amazon fulfillment center opened in September 2018 and employs over 2,000 full-time workers to pick, pack and ship products. (Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun video)

The Sparrows Point Amazon fulfillment center opened in September 2018 and employs over 2,000 full-time workers to pick, pack and ship products. (Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun video)

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The Sparrows Point Amazon fulfillment center opened in September 2018 and employs over 2,000 full-time workers to pick, pack and ship products. (Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun video)

The Sparrows Point Amazon fulfillment center opened in September 2018 and employs over 2,000 full-time workers to pick, pack and ship products. (Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun video)

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Police say they've connected three men to at least 54 armed robberies in Baltimore City, at least 18 armed robberies in Baltimore County and at least four armed robberies in Anne Arundel County. (Cody Boteler / Baltimore Sun Media)

Police say they've connected three men to at least 54 armed robberies in Baltimore City, at least 18 armed robberies in Baltimore County and at least four armed robberies in Anne Arundel County. (Cody Boteler / Baltimore Sun Media)

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Towson University students complained to school police officers about a woman approaching them in two campus buildings last week and asking if they were interested in dating her son.

Towson University students complained to school police officers about a woman approaching them in two campus buildings last week and asking if they were interested in dating her son.

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The Baltimore County teachers union rallies about budget issues before the school board meeting. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun video)

The Baltimore County teachers union rallies about budget issues before the school board meeting. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun video)

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Turner Station, which dates to the late 1800s, became a thriving, middle-class black community in the mid-20th Century. The neighborhood has struggled with decline in recent years, but some former and current residents are working for a revival.

Turner Station, which dates to the late 1800s, became a thriving, middle-class black community in the mid-20th Century. The neighborhood has struggled with decline in recent years, but some former and current residents are working for a revival.